10 Questions to Ask a Pet Relocation Agent Before You Hire Them

Handing your pet to a transport agent is an act of trust. Choose the wrong agent and your dog could end up crated in an unventilated holding area, handed to an inexperienced sub-agent, or delayed at a border because of a documentation error that a professional would have caught.

These 10 questions will help you identify agents who know what they’re doing.

1. Are You an IPATA Member?

IPATA (International Pet and Animal Transportation Association) is the global body for professional pet transport agents. Members agree to ethical standards and participate in ongoing training. Start here - it filters out casual operators immediately.

2. Can I See Your IATA Accreditation?

IATA-accredited agents can issue air waybills directly and have been audited by IATA. This matters for cargo logistics. Non-IATA-accredited agents typically sub-contract the air booking, which adds a hand-off point where things can go wrong.

3. Who Will Actually Handle My Pet?

Ask specifically: will your company handle my pet from door to door, or will any part of the journey be sub-contracted? If sub-contracted, to whom, and what is their accreditation status?

4. How Many Times Have You Done This Specific Route?

A UK-to-Australia specialist who has done 500 Australia moves is a better choice for that route than a general agent who has done it twice. Route-specific experience reduces the chance of documentation errors.

5. Which Veterinary Authority Do You Work With for Health Certificates?

A good agent should be able to name the Official Veterinarians or APHA-accredited vets they use for documentation. Agents who are vague here may be less experienced with government endorsement processes.

6. What Is Your Protocol If the Flight Is Delayed or Cancelled?

This is the critical question. What happens if your dog is in a crate in a transit facility and the onward flight is delayed 8 hours? A professional agent has a clear answer: access to partner facilities, 24-hour contacts, a backup plan.

7. What Does Your Quote Include, Exactly?

Get a line-by-line breakdown: crate (included?), government health certificate (included?), government endorsement fees (included?), collection and delivery (included?), quarantine fees if applicable (included?). Hidden costs in pet transport are common.

8. What Crate Will You Use and Can I See the Specification?

The agent should be able to specify the exact IATA crate size for your pet based on current measurements. “We’ll sort the crate” is not an acceptable answer.

9. Do You Carry Professional Liability Insurance?

If the agent’s error causes your pet to be held, mis-routed, or harmed, what recourse do you have? A professional operator carries insurance. Ask to see the certificate.

10. Do You Have References from This Route in the Last 12 Months?

Not general testimonials - specific references from people who have done the same or similar route recently. The regulations change. An agent who last moved a pet to your destination country two years ago may not be current.

A specialist IPATA-member agent charges more than a budget option. For a non-trivial move involving quarantine, breed restrictions, or multiple connections, the cost is worth it.

Sources: IPATA Code of Ethics; IATA CEIV Live Animals certification programme. Data current as of May 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

IPATA (International Pet and Animal Transportation Association) is the global professional body for pet transport. Members agree to a code of ethics and minimum standards. IPATA membership is not a guarantee of quality, but it means the agent has committed to professional standards and has access to training. Non-member agents have no accountability mechanism.

Not automatically, but price is a poor guide to quality in pet transport. The cheapest quote may involve substandard crating, minimal documentation checks, or use of sub-agents with less experience. Get three quotes, compare what’s included, and ask every question on this list.

Ask this question in the consultation. A good agent will have a clear protocol for flight delays, documentation issues, and veterinary emergencies during transit. An agent who cannot answer this question clearly is not the right choice.